I am thankful to the Kings organization, all the Kings fans, my

Hear the words of Vlade Divac: “I am thankful to the Kings organization, all the Kings fans, my family and all the people who supported me throughout my career.” Within these words is not only the voice of an athlete, but the voice of a man who understands that greatness is never carried by one alone. His declaration is not of pride but of gratitude, an acknowledgment that his strength was woven from many threads—the organization that gave him opportunity, the fans whose voices lifted him, the family who stood beside him, and the countless others who gave their unseen support.

The origin of this reflection lies in a career that crossed borders and cultures. Vlade Divac, born in Yugoslavia, carried his spirit of basketball across the oceans to the NBA, where he became one of the great centers of his era. Yet when he speaks, he does not only remember his own triumphs on the court. He remembers the Kings organization, who gave him a home, the fans who believed in him, and the family who sustained him through sacrifice. His thankfulness is the recognition that the glory of a career is a tapestry, woven by many hands.

This is a truth the ancients also knew. Consider Alexander of Macedon, whose conquests stretched across continents. Though his name is remembered, he often declared his gratitude for the loyalty of his generals and the endurance of his soldiers. Without them, his vision would have remained only a dream. In the same way, Divac’s words remind us that every triumph—whether on the battlefield, in the arena, or in the struggles of daily life—is never the work of one alone. It is always the fruit of community, of unity, of unseen sacrifices.

There is also in his words the recognition of the power of loyalty. The fans of Sacramento, long starved of championships, gave their passion freely, lifting the team in triumph and mourning in defeat. To be thankful to them is to honor the sacred bond between player and people. For without the voices of the crowd, the court is silent; without the passion of the many, the labor of the few loses its fire. Divac’s gratitude is a lesson in humility—that those who cheer are not mere observers, but participants in the story of victory and struggle.

Yet perhaps the deepest gratitude he speaks is toward family and those unseen who supported him. Every great endeavor, every career that spans decades, rests upon hidden sacrifices—the parents who believed, the spouse who endured long absences, the friends who gave strength in moments of doubt. To give thanks to them is to confess that no public glory can stand without private faithfulness. Divac’s words remind us that behind every champion stands a circle of love that the world may never fully see.

The lesson, then, is clear: gratitude is the crown of greatness. No man or woman should ever believe their success is theirs alone. We are all carried by the hands of others—teachers, companions, families, communities. The wise never forget this truth. They honor it not only in words but in deeds, by living lives that reflect humility, kindness, and acknowledgment of the unseen sacrifices that shaped them.

Practical actions rise from this wisdom. Each of us must pause to name those who made our journeys possible and to give thanks. Speak your gratitude aloud—to your family, to your friends, to your community. When you succeed, honor those who carried you. When you rise, extend your hand to others, that they too may rise. In this way, your life becomes not only a story of personal triumph, but of shared glory.

Thus, let Vlade Divac’s words endure as a teaching: “I am thankful… for all the people who supported me.” For this is the heart of legacy—that greatness is not solitary, that gratitude is the mark of true strength, and that every life of honor is built upon the loyalty, faith, and love of many. To remember this is to walk humbly, to live gratefully, and to leave behind a story that inspires generations yet to come.